Mail-chute.



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MAIL CHUTE. A APPLICATION 'FILED SEPT. 24, 1905.

Pafeuted Sept. 2.2,"-1908 'i ssHsn'rsHnmll.

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J. W. CUTLER'.: Mm. GHUTL APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1908.

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Mm. CHUTE. Y APPLICATIOH FILED SEPT. 24. 1906.

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" sggy'wmz. h Patented sept-22,1908. i

i i E l invirin)l sri/iras JOSEPH WARREN CTLER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CUTLER MANUFACTUR- TQ all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jessen lVAnnEN OUT- i, init; of Rochester, 1n the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented' certain new and useful Improvements in Mail- Chutes ,and I do hereby declare the following to be affull, clear, and exact description of the samefreference being hadto the vaccompanying drawings, forming a partof this specification, and to the reference-numcrals marked thereon.

My presentinvcntion relates-to chutes or conduits for mail matter and has for its object t-o provide"`an improved chute in which the inail-conducting sections, or tubes proper, are formed of parts readily made and assembled, without the employment of securing rivets or screws projecting through tliewsides so that the interior of those sections are smooth and are also free from angleh or- The invention furtherconsists in so con.

structing and arranging the sections and only may the parts be readily assembled and secured in iosition 1n erecting the chute, `but the parts o the chute, or such of them asmay be necessary, can be removed for the purposes of cleansing, clearing stoppages or otherwise by authorized persons only, the removal of such parts and of the chute from its ultimate support being controlled by a lock operable only by keys in the hands of authorized persons. To these and other ends t-he invention consists in certain features and improvements hereinafter described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a chute embodying my improvements, the extremities of two sections and their cooperating part-s adapted for a single floor of a building being shown, the int crmediate portions representing indefinite length being broken away. Fig. 2 is a. vertical sectional view of the same taken at one side of the center. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line a-a of Fig. 2.' Fig. 4 is a similar View taken on the line b-b of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the bracket for the upper end of the upper section. Fig.

5 is a perspective view of the upper end of i, l .Mem-CHUTE.

` Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed September 24, 1906.` Serial No, 336,069.

ING COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, i\ E\\' YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. v

Patented Sept. 22, 1908.

the upper chute section. Fig. 6 isa perspective view of the intermediate bracket. body or channel and the front panel separated. Fig. S is a perspective view of the base plate with portions broken away. Fig.

securing F ig. 7 is a perspective view of the PATENT oFFIoE. i y' 9 is a perspective View of the iloor tube. Fig.

10 a similar view of the sub-base.

These inail chutes or conduits 'extendingl through the various floors of buildings an provided at each floor with a inail-receiving aperture are deemed a part of the mail box or receptacle and being under the supervision of the department, should'be of such nature that the f may be secured from bein openen or removed, excepting byauthorize persons, and their construction should be such that when necessary to have access to the interior it may be readily accomplished L by unskilled persons. From the manufactui-ers'` and purchasers standpomts it is desirable that. the parts of the chute be simple,

l relatively inexpensive in construction and arranged and adapted to each other to faciliparts and the support. or supports that not I lower door may be of the usual oi any desired construction.

ln the present embodiment there are but two removable chute sections A and B to a. floor, the upper end of sect-ion A cooperating with the Hoor section of the portion of the chute above and having a finishing molding C thereon, with the lower end of the section B, which latter contains the mailing aperture., cooperating with the base inside of which latter a coufpling or lioor section eX- .tends through thc oor into the upper end of the portion of the chute on the next lower Hoor.

The chute as a whole is attached to a Silitable support or upright E which may be a separate structure extendinfl from top to bottom of the building or ibrm a part l of thel wall thereofybutI is the part -to'l which nel preferaily made of a sing-le )iece of Y sheet metal bent up to form the bac( l and the sides 2 having at their Aforward edges the narrow inwaidly-extending flanges 3. The ends of the channel are also reinforced and thickened' for securing pins and rivetshere after described by turning back the flanges i 11 and 12 as shown in Fig. 7. The frontof the sect-ions consists of a narrow panel preferably composed in whole or in part, of a plate of glass indicated by 4, to the sides of which are secured moldings 5 cooperating. with the These moldings are each formed of a single piece of sheet metal having the front flange 6 engaging the outer surface of the glass and the rear flange 7 enga-ging the rear surface thereof, this llt-.nge being brought down to a sharp edge forming a tight joint not only securing the glass Vfirmly but preventing the format-ion of cracks or crevices in whichthe descending mail matter might catch. T he sheet metal of which the moldings are formed is doubled as shown, to form the narrow recess or slot for the reception of the flanges 3 of the channel which extend into them from the outer sides and the inner portion or wall of this slot is formed by the two thicknesses of metal rendering it rigid and insuring a 1miform way or recess for the said flanges. portion of the molding which extends within the chute is relatively thin and the joint be tween the flanges 3 and the molding is protected by the doubled portion which forms an vabutment preventing thin pieces of mail matter such as postal cards descending the chute 'from reaching the abutting edges. In order to pro )orly )osi-tion the glass and to strengthen and reiniorce the moldings and revent the corners being dented or crushed,

prefer to reinforce them with the strips S of angle irons, one of the flanges thereof abutting the glass, and the other filling out the outer corner. In assembling these parts the moldings containing the reinforce or fillingr 1 are slid lengthwise on the edges of the glass, the spring of the flanges making tight joints, and the glass and moldings are then slid lengthwise -on the flanges 3 of the channels, the thickness and rigidity of the material of the sides 2 of the channel being sufficient to hold the parts firmly together, though in the present arrangement these sides are braced and held by the supporting and locking brackets on the support. This construction of chute sections m which the longitudinal grooves in the panel moldings are made smooth and true also enables 'the panel to be removed to permit access to the interior of y the chute, if this should be desiredI by sliding The below it, and whether or notthe channel is .bodily removable from its supporty or only movable far enough to free one end of the panel and permit. the free movement of the glass. j

The two-clinic sections shown are,` in the present embodiment, attached to the backing or support E through the medium of i brackets7 with which the outer ends are detacliably engaged, and their proximate ends Aare locked together' and to the support E, or a partA attached thereto by a. key-controlled ally-extending pins or studs 13 adapted to rest in notches 14 in the forwardly-projecting arms 15, of a bracket 1G, secured by screws 1T to the su )port E, said securing screws being covered by the chut-e section when in position. to prevnt their removal. The forward sides of the notches 14 in the bracket arms are inclined as shown to permit the upper end of the `section to be tilted forwardly as will be explained. tion is provided at the rear side of its lower end with two studs or dowels 1S adapted to extend into corresponding recesses or sockets lil in a bracket tl fastened to the support E.

bar or plate '11, and the forwardly-ext-ending arms 2;. and is provided on bot-h these parts with the inwardly-extending flange or web '.23 which is continued across between the arms this flange and web being slightly beveled and thicker at its lower `side than the doubled thickness of the materia-l of the lower chute section so that it will overlap the lower channel and tie lzer 4 will extend inwardly beond the glass of the lower section preventing tite sections arc assembled. The flanges '.23 t on the inner sides of the arms 22 are. inclined 'slightly downwards toward the rear as the lower end of the upper section and the u )per i end of tire lower section are ada-pte( to swing forward and the web fills the space between teeir adjacent ends. Vis secured to tile support E by screws 25 which are ctn-ered by the chute sections when in position.

The upper end of the lower section B is l provided with the flanges and the dowel pins 1S at the rear similar to those at the lower end of section A, adapted to fit corresponding I sickets 19 below the flange 3 and at lts lower -end it is provided near the forward edges with the side studs or pins 26, fitting in open 1 sockets or net-clics in the upper flanges of a that when the section is in position its upper tend ii beneath the flange and webl on the locking device in the manner to be described.- ,f The upper end of the channel forming the opper chute section A is provided with laterglass and with the flanges 3 on the channel. f

at the front in toe form of a narrow bar 4,

the panel longitudinally on the flanges 3 when' Y the `wction 1s freed from the parts above orv -1` The chute sec- The bracket or frame "2() embodies area-rV the lodgment of mail matter thereon when Y This bracket 20 base plate 2T, the construction being suclrV bracket v and the pins 1S are in their sockets preventing the upward movement and .fthe diseiigagemeiimpins 26 from the base. T bis sectionrB contains the casing D iii which the mailing aperture is arranged, this casing being constructed as shown fin several of my prior patents, the casing being held by th`c`nehliligs`at the edge in the saine manner as 4the glass anel, fora'Ipoition of which it is substituted).

'lhe ends of the arms 22 of `the bracket or frainefl() extend forwardly of the web or cross bar '24, and are adapted to receive and hold a bar 30 secured in position by a ke) lock, and in the present arrangement t-liis bar has arms 31 i'itting between'the arms of the bracket and its inner surface. fits over and against the moldings on both the up )er and lower chute sections preventing the florward movement of their proximate ends and consequently their disengagement. from the support. In the present embodiment the ha is locked to the bracket by the bolts 32 adapt.- ed to be projected from its ends and entering corresponding apertures in the arms 22, the operating'nieans consisting of a rotary disk 33 pivoted centrally of the bar having recesses for receiving the lugs on the' end of a removable key 35. The-preferred means for preventing the operation of the disk otherwise than by the appropriate key carried by an authorized person, 1s the slotted ward`- )lates 36 arranged in the casing 37, the key iavingr notches therein for fitting said wards, all as shown in my Patent No. SJlS. The support for the lower end of the lower chute section and the floor connection are shown particularly in 1, 2 and 8, the sub base or frame 40 being secured to the support E by screws 41 accessible only from the inside, and upon this sub-base rests the base '27 having lugs 42 extending down behind the front of the sub-base and preventing forward movement. From this it will be seen that as the base 27 covers the screws 41 and is held down in position by the chute section B which is in turn locked by the key lock. The connection between the lower end of the section B and the upper end of the section on the floor below, is formed by the usual collar 45 engaging the lower end of the former and having the tube 46 extendinginto the latter. The upper end of the chute at the ceiling is covered by a finishing molding 17 secured to the support or to the chute in any suitable manner.

From the above it will be seen that all )arts of the chute are secured bya single key lock and that until this is unlocked, not only is access to the interior preventeth'but none of the holding screws can be manipulated to remove any part of the, chute from its suport.

When it is desired'to remove either chute section the lock is operated by the key and the bar 30 removed,- then to take down the upper section A, its lower end is swung forward on the pins 13 at its upper end' until section B is to be removed, its upper end is l.

tilted forward from beneath the bracket, and it is then lifted out as will be understood.

While the specific construction of the various parts described has been found in practice to be admirably ada )ted to the purpose., I do not desire to be. coniined to this as various modifications in construction will readily occur to those skilled iii the art, without dcparting from the Aspirit of my invention.

The broad invention of )ivoting the chute sections and the construction of the channel with llalnges and ot the )anel with moldings of the construction are c aimed in my appIication of even date Serial No. SSGJYIU. and the bracket with the forwardly extending arms and removable cross bar, is claimed in my application Serial o. 347,397, filed Dec. '12, 1906.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a mail chute, the combination with a support, of twotubular sections pivotally supported at opposite ends and a. lockino' means for securing the adjacent ends of sai( sections in alinement.

2. In a mail chute, the combination with a support, of two tubular chute sections pivoted at opposite ends in open bearings and means for securing thcadjacent ends of v said sections in alinement.

3. In a mail chute, the combination with a support, of a tubular chute section supported at its upper end in upwardlypening bearings, stops for preventing the disengagement of the chute from its bearings when in' vertical position, and locking means controlled by a key for securing the section in locked position.

4. In a mail chute, the combination with a support, of a'tubular chute section supported at its u er end in upwardly-opening bearings and) iaving locking studs at its lower end adapted to cooperate with corresponding recesses on a support when the set-tion isin .vertical position, and locking devices for securing the section with the studs engaged.

5. In a mail chute, the combination with a sup ort, of a. tubular chute section havin@ the caring studs at the sides of one end, and locking projections at the other, and bearingsaiid recesses on the support with which said studs engage..

6. In a mail chute, the combination witha support, a bracket thereon having bearing notches in its upperside, and a second bracket haying a recess therein, of a tubular chute section having bearing and locking studs at opposite. ends for engaging said notches and necesscs, and means for locking said section ies engagement.

7.' Ina mail chute, the combination with a support, of the tubular chute section having sheetl metal back and sides, and reinforca at the -ends by doubling over the metal.

studs or pins secured to said reinforced poi--` tions an( a 'part mounted Ion the support having recesses with which" said studs co'- operate.

. '8. In a mailchute, the combination with a.

forwardly extending ai'ins, of the tubular chute arranged between the bracket amis support and fa bracket thereon having the r and an independently removable bar for con hning the front of the chute having a portion located between and cooperating with said arms, a bolt carried by said bar engaging the arms and a removable key for actuating it- 9.7In a niail'chute, the combination with the support and a bracket thereon havingtlie forwarilly-extendiiig arms, of the tubnlai` chute arranged between the ariiis,-the independently removable securing bar, the movable locking bolts thereon adapted to enwge the arms bf the bracket, the removabiej warded key for operating said bolts, the lor-k casing and the wards therein with which the key cooperates.

10. In a mail chute, the combination with the chute sections having the studs on their adjacent ends, of the bracket having recesses with which the studs cooperate to prevent longitudinal movement of the sections, the 1 locking bar extending across thc chute secremovable kev.

means for securing said section.

14. In a mail chute, the combination with two adjacent chute sections, supports therefor and vertically open connections between the sections and supports engaged and disin vertical vposition .with the locking studs in when said section is in vertical positioin andY engaged by tilting and longitudinal movement of the sections and a locking device between and engaging adjacent ends of the sections to prevent their disengagement.

15. In a mail chute, the combination with the support, a bracket secured thereto by fastening devices accessible from t-he inner side only and having the foi'wardly-projecting portions provided with upwaidly-opening bearings, of a movable chute section covering the fastening devices and havinor studs arranged in said bearings'ineans for preventing upward movement of said chute section when in vertical position and key-controlled locking devices for preventing tilting of the section on its bearings. 1

16. In a inail chute, the combination with the support, the sub-base secured thereto by astening devices accessible from the inner side only, the base frame having the projecrions engaging the sub-base for preventing u forward vmovement thereon and having the 2 open bearings in lts upper portion, ofthe chute section having studs arranged in the bearings on the base and locking devices for reventinr the tiltin' and vertical move- ZD b i ments of the chute section.

17. In a mail chute, the combination with j the support and thebracket thereon, of a tions and a lock for said bar controlled b v a 11. In a inail chute, the combination ith 4 the chute sections having the studs on their adjacent ends, of a support, a bracket secured thereto by fasteniiigs accessible from 1- the inner side thereof, and provided m'th the recesses and the forwardly-exteiiding arms between which the chute sections extend,

the bar cooperating with the bracket and a key lock for securing it in position.

12. In a inail chute, the combination with the support, a removable chute section,

brackets on the support arranged at opposite chute section and cooperating portions between the section and bracket adapted and arranged to prevent the forward movement or' one end and to be disengaged by a forward tilting of the opposite end and a longitudinal movement of the section.

18. In a inail chute, a movable section hinged at one end, and means for locking said section in-position, substantially as described.

19. In a mail chute, a movable section hinged at its upper end, and means for lockends of the section, one of said brackets be i ing loosely mounted upon and held from vertical movement on the support by the sei-` securing it to the support, a removable base 'f said section in position; substantially as described.

20. In a mail chute, a vertically movable section hinged at one end, and means for locking said section in position substantially as f described.

. tion, and means for locking the opposite end 'Y frame secured to the sub-base by fastening devices engaged and disengaged by a vertical movemeiit `of a movable chute section j:

i pivot-ally engaging the base and holding ieg' 21. In a mail chiite, a section movable verically and outwardly, said section beine' hinged at one end, and means for locking said section in position; substantially as described.

JOSEPH WARREN CUTI 1ER.

IVitnesscs:

R. G. FLACK, l

J. MCAFFREY. 

